Discovery Intermediate Students To Receive Musical Instruments From National Foundation

Discovery Intermediate Students To Receive Musical Instruments From National Foundation

Posted on 05/06/2016

Discovery Intermediate School in Osceola County, Florida, will soon receive new musical instruments thanks to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. An application for support was submitted by Principal Alan Ramos and Peter Swanson, Director of Bands, at Discovery Intermediate, with the strong backing of Ms. Debra Fahmie, Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist for the Osceola School District. The foundation supported the school's program as a worthwhile investment, allowing more students to be able to play and experience the benefits of music education.

According to Principal Ramos, “This grant means everything to our school, our students, and our community. While $30,705 in new instruments will not meet all of our school’s needs, it certainly will help our students and their parents by providing them with the opportunity to rent quality musical instruments at an affordable price.”

“Learning music in school is a way to engage kids and give them something that makes them better students and better people,” said Felice Mancini, President and CEO of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “They deserve every tool available to help them receive a quality education, and we want to insure that music is in that toolbox."

Discovery Intermediate School is known for its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Choice Program. However, over the past three years, the school’s band program has grown in both membership and quality. The school’s marching band was recognized for being the “Best Band” at the 2015 Poinciana Christmas Parade.

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation donates musical instruments to schools in an effort to give youngsters the many benefits of music education, to help them to be better students, and to inspire creativity and expression through playing music. With many school music programs across the country losing vital funding, the foundation helps under-served schools with minimal budgets by donating new instruments, often replacing some that are more than 30 years old. The organization was inspired by the 1995 motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus and was founded by Michael Kamen, who composed the music for the movie and countless others. In the last 20 years, over 20,000 instruments have been donated to over 1,360 schools across the country. More information can be found at www.mhopus.org or dscv.osceolaschools.net.